I returned back after many years. I found the food to be below average. They also push expensive sake that is not worth the value. Overall and I'm sorry to say, I have no reason to return again.-------------------------------Original Review - 2017I have no doubt this is one of the best small-table Omakase style restaurants within a thousand miles of Miami. I am from Manhattan so unfortunately I need to judge it based on what I'm accustom. First off, the price was comparable to high-end Omakase restaurants in Manhattan so they are just asking to be held to that standard.It's always fun to eat at a restaurant with an open kitchen, at NAOE the kitchen was amazingly clean, but just not that appetizing in appearance. Watching the Chef cook was also not that interesting, placing delicious fish under a salamander oven to finish and putting temperature probes into other items did not convey the mastery the Chef has obviously obtained. Much of the preparation was done in a private smaller kitchen so I did not see the point of the kitchen on display. The area for preparing sushi was just a small cutting board.The food itself was delicious and very fresh. The bento box was a nice change from an all sushi presentation, but the squash miso soup was lacking in flavor and balance, and the beet and grain cake seemed uninspired and plain. Everything else in the bento box was truly amazing.All of the sushi bites they served were outstanding, the rice was warm and perfectly seasoned. To my dismay we were only served 5 bites of sushi in a 12 course Omakase with 2 desert courses. That was very disappointing to me. The uni from Hokkaido was the star of the show. It was explained that it was a special kind that is not packaged with preservatives but rather with sea water and hence more expensive and harder to acquire. The remaining 4 bites of fish were delicious, but I so wanted to be impressed by the variety, rarity and preparation of the fish and the restaurant did not deliver. There were also no hand rolls or any type of small bite that is composed of fish, rice, and seaweed. Seaweed is another way (after rice and fish) I judge a sushi chef and restaurant.The deserts were very good and really showcased the creativity and culinary skill of the Chef. The staff at the restaurant were very educated on the food and really nice to talk with while we ate. The restaurant is very much in the upper echelon of sushi restaurants, but needs minor improvements to be truly great. Perhaps we will try it again when we go to Miami next if they don't take offense to my review. I very much respect what they have achieved.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 5
Kim Hawthorne
Small, intimate restaurant with excellent service and attention to detail. Wonderful food fabulously displayed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Candice Ogilvie
We met another lovely couple that night and the staff is wonderful. It’s more than a meal, it’s an experience well worth it.
Fred Watkins
First time here and this place is freaking amazing. The food is really delicious and the service is out of this world.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Olga Insurance
Above and beyond. I have been there a few times, and I will definitely come back again!That place is authentic as if you travel to Japan!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Boiled Fish with Trumpet Mushrooms, Appetizer Sampler, Uni Sushi, BBQ Eel, Sashimi Appetizer, Miso Soup, Mackerel
Rooni
This is by far the best restaurant I’ve ever eaten at in the world. It’s not just the food… it’s an entire experience, but the food is unbelievably amazing. Kevin knows what he’s doing!!
Florence Wen
My goodness. I have LONGGGGGG WAITED to make a reservation here, what better timing than marking the end of my 14 Year Miami Stint? Combine that with a good friend's birthday and it's a winning combination!!! Memorable, delicious, enjoyable, intimate, I mean - so so so worth it.
Jered Danielson
A wonderful dining experience. Not just sushi, but a multi-hour tour of the freshest possible seafood and traditional Japanese dishes. The staff was friendly, the ambiance intimate, and food delicious. Unlike some other “fine dining” I have had in this price range, NAOE is 100% worth it. I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable omakase.
Rocio Olea
This place is wonderful! We couldn’t find it and no one knew where it was and I loved that about it. Chef Kevin is great and Wendy is the sweetest and cutest hostess. The food was fresh and so beautiful. We met another lovely couple that night and the staff is wonderful. It’s more than a meal, it’s an experience well worth it.
Rajiv K.
As of this review, I believe the heart and service of NAOE is beyond what I've ever experienced before. Tonight, we were led by Wendy and the service here was superb, may I say genuine to the point you can't really "train". Tommy, as well, very friendly and served our dishes impeccably. Once you're in the door, they really take care of you 100%. Even as we were a bit late to depart, they never once made us feel unwelcome or rushed to leave. Further, from the cloth embroidered placements and select serve-ware to the uniquely selected ingredients (sake, wasabi, soy, fish, mushrooms, rice and more) NAOE is a very special experience. Tonight, and I believe most nights, they only seat four people for a very intimate, classy, curated, and high end experience. The ambiance is very zen, minimalist, and it works for the space. They make you feel comfortable, truly at home. Not only that but the uniquer fare is very tasty and masterfully crafted by an experienced chef with a lot of heart and respect for the Japanese tradition and culture. Prices and plates are not really for the faint of heart, and it's not meant to be. Foodies will relish the experience and do expect to equally "dish out" for it. NAOE - you have something truly special. Keep up the amazing tradition. I wish you all the success and hope to join again soon.
The best Japanese food I ever ate. Thank you chef Kevin Cory for the most beautiful food presentation I ever seen. Awesome service and the fresh food.
Oz
IMO a truly spectacular performance and homage to Japanese cuisine by chef Cory and his team. Had us reminiscing about the magical experiences had in Japan. A three hour dinner went by in a blink thanks to how welcoming and thoughtful they were. Really can’t wait to visit again. And again.Dine in: Yes
Christina S.
hands-down the ULTIMATE, BEST, MOST UNIQUE, AUTHENTIC Japanese experience you'll find in Miami - possibly even the entire United States!!!!! There is NOTHING ELSE LIKE IT, or that even comes close. You cannot compare the Naoe experience to any other omakase. There are no words.. see - I can't even find a way to describe it!! You really have to try it for yourself to understand. Naoe stands in a class of it's own. Those who know, KNOW. Some say it's impossible to get in - which it is - but as I always say, "if there's a will, there's a way." Maybe some are simply contacting the wrong reservations. Just call ahead and plan at least a month out. The wait is so worth it! You will absolutely not be disappointed. Thank me later;)!
James Smith
My goodness. I have LONGGGGGG WAITED to make a reservation here, what better timing than marking the end of my 14 Year Miami Stint? Combine that with a good friend's birthday and it's a winning combination!!! Memorable, delicious, enjoyable, intimate, I mean - so so so worth it.Is it expensive, yes - but also of course it is! They are using the best of the best ingredient-wise and the service you receive is beyond top-notch. If you do not value experiences like this then you will think its "too expensive" but if you find life through food this is a "cannot miss" experience!The menu was diverse, intriguing, intimidating (at times), and quite adventurous. What a mix! I would not skip the sake, not at all - it was such a wonderful accompaniment to each dish! I won't go into detail on my particular tasting experience as you can never be certain what chef will be in the mood for while you visit but just prepare yourself to try new things and be open to everything NAOE has to offer!
A J
Service, sake, and atmosphere are among the best I've ever experienced. I am sure the food is the pinacle of what it is trying to represent, however for me, it was not ideal for my tastes. Very ingredient forward with very little done to add or detract from the flavor of the basic ingredients, though the presentation was perfect. Some of the flavors are very strong, while others are barely there. This is exactly what it was supposed to be, but to me I was at times left wanting more flavor, and at other times wanting less. Overall a good experience.
I returned back after many years. I found the food to be below average. They also push expensive sake that is not worth the value. Overall and I'm sorry to say, I have no reason to return again.-------------------------------Original Review - 2017I have no doubt this is one of the best small-table Omakase style restaurants within a thousand miles of Miami. I am from Manhattan so unfortunately I need to judge it based on what I'm accustom. First off, the price was comparable to high-end Omakase restaurants in Manhattan so they are just asking to be held to that standard.It's always fun to eat at a restaurant with an open kitchen, at NAOE the kitchen was amazingly clean, but just not that appetizing in appearance. Watching the Chef cook was also not that interesting, placing delicious fish under a salamander oven to finish and putting temperature probes into other items did not convey the mastery the Chef has obviously obtained. Much of the preparation was done in a private smaller kitchen so I did not see the point of the kitchen on display. The area for preparing sushi was just a small cutting board.The food itself was delicious and very fresh. The bento box was a nice change from an all sushi presentation, but the squash miso soup was lacking in flavor and balance, and the beet and grain cake seemed uninspired and plain. Everything else in the bento box was truly amazing.All of the sushi bites they served were outstanding, the rice was warm and perfectly seasoned. To my dismay we were only served 5 bites of sushi in a 12 course Omakase with 2 desert courses. That was very disappointing to me. The uni from Hokkaido was the star of the show. It was explained that it was a special kind that is not packaged with preservatives but rather with sea water and hence more expensive and harder to acquire. The remaining 4 bites of fish were delicious, but I so wanted to be impressed by the variety, rarity and preparation of the fish and the restaurant did not deliver. There were also no hand rolls or any type of small bite that is composed of fish, rice, and seaweed. Seaweed is another way (after rice and fish) I judge a sushi chef and restaurant.The deserts were very good and really showcased the creativity and culinary skill of the Chef. The staff at the restaurant were very educated on the food and really nice to talk with while we ate. The restaurant is very much in the upper echelon of sushi restaurants, but needs minor improvements to be truly great. Perhaps we will try it again when we go to Miami next if they don't take offense to my review. I very much respect what they have achieved.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 5
Small, intimate restaurant with excellent service and attention to detail. Wonderful food fabulously displayed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We met another lovely couple that night and the staff is wonderful. It’s more than a meal, it’s an experience well worth it.
First time here and this place is freaking amazing. The food is really delicious and the service is out of this world.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Above and beyond. I have been there a few times, and I will definitely come back again!That place is authentic as if you travel to Japan!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Boiled Fish with Trumpet Mushrooms, Appetizer Sampler, Uni Sushi, BBQ Eel, Sashimi Appetizer, Miso Soup, Mackerel
This is by far the best restaurant I’ve ever eaten at in the world. It’s not just the food… it’s an entire experience, but the food is unbelievably amazing. Kevin knows what he’s doing!!
My goodness. I have LONGGGGGG WAITED to make a reservation here, what better timing than marking the end of my 14 Year Miami Stint? Combine that with a good friend's birthday and it's a winning combination!!! Memorable, delicious, enjoyable, intimate, I mean - so so so worth it.
A wonderful dining experience. Not just sushi, but a multi-hour tour of the freshest possible seafood and traditional Japanese dishes. The staff was friendly, the ambiance intimate, and food delicious. Unlike some other “fine dining” I have had in this price range, NAOE is 100% worth it. I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable omakase.
This place is wonderful! We couldn’t find it and no one knew where it was and I loved that about it. Chef Kevin is great and Wendy is the sweetest and cutest hostess. The food was fresh and so beautiful. We met another lovely couple that night and the staff is wonderful. It’s more than a meal, it’s an experience well worth it.
As of this review, I believe the heart and service of NAOE is beyond what I've ever experienced before. Tonight, we were led by Wendy and the service here was superb, may I say genuine to the point you can't really "train". Tommy, as well, very friendly and served our dishes impeccably. Once you're in the door, they really take care of you 100%. Even as we were a bit late to depart, they never once made us feel unwelcome or rushed to leave. Further, from the cloth embroidered placements and select serve-ware to the uniquely selected ingredients (sake, wasabi, soy, fish, mushrooms, rice and more) NAOE is a very special experience. Tonight, and I believe most nights, they only seat four people for a very intimate, classy, curated, and high end experience. The ambiance is very zen, minimalist, and it works for the space. They make you feel comfortable, truly at home. Not only that but the uniquer fare is very tasty and masterfully crafted by an experienced chef with a lot of heart and respect for the Japanese tradition and culture. Prices and plates are not really for the faint of heart, and it's not meant to be. Foodies will relish the experience and do expect to equally "dish out" for it. NAOE - you have something truly special. Keep up the amazing tradition. I wish you all the success and hope to join again soon.
Restaurantji Recommends
The best Japanese food I ever ate. Thank you chef Kevin Cory for the most beautiful food presentation I ever seen. Awesome service and the fresh food.
IMO a truly spectacular performance and homage to Japanese cuisine by chef Cory and his team. Had us reminiscing about the magical experiences had in Japan. A three hour dinner went by in a blink thanks to how welcoming and thoughtful they were. Really can’t wait to visit again. And again.Dine in: Yes
hands-down the ULTIMATE, BEST, MOST UNIQUE, AUTHENTIC Japanese experience you'll find in Miami - possibly even the entire United States!!!!! There is NOTHING ELSE LIKE IT, or that even comes close. You cannot compare the Naoe experience to any other omakase. There are no words.. see - I can't even find a way to describe it!! You really have to try it for yourself to understand. Naoe stands in a class of it's own. Those who know, KNOW. Some say it's impossible to get in - which it is - but as I always say, "if there's a will, there's a way." Maybe some are simply contacting the wrong reservations. Just call ahead and plan at least a month out. The wait is so worth it! You will absolutely not be disappointed. Thank me later;)!
My goodness. I have LONGGGGGG WAITED to make a reservation here, what better timing than marking the end of my 14 Year Miami Stint? Combine that with a good friend's birthday and it's a winning combination!!! Memorable, delicious, enjoyable, intimate, I mean - so so so worth it.Is it expensive, yes - but also of course it is! They are using the best of the best ingredient-wise and the service you receive is beyond top-notch. If you do not value experiences like this then you will think its "too expensive" but if you find life through food this is a "cannot miss" experience!The menu was diverse, intriguing, intimidating (at times), and quite adventurous. What a mix! I would not skip the sake, not at all - it was such a wonderful accompaniment to each dish! I won't go into detail on my particular tasting experience as you can never be certain what chef will be in the mood for while you visit but just prepare yourself to try new things and be open to everything NAOE has to offer!
Service, sake, and atmosphere are among the best I've ever experienced. I am sure the food is the pinacle of what it is trying to represent, however for me, it was not ideal for my tastes. Very ingredient forward with very little done to add or detract from the flavor of the basic ingredients, though the presentation was perfect. Some of the flavors are very strong, while others are barely there. This is exactly what it was supposed to be, but to me I was at times left wanting more flavor, and at other times wanting less. Overall a good experience.